Torenia plant named ‘Dantorwhite’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Torenia  plant named ‘Dantorwhite’ particularly characterized by having shiny green foliage, dotted with plenty of delicate, cup shaped flowers in shades of white with a yellow throat; bush cascading, vigorous, compact rounded growth, densely branched; early flowering, flowers all year round in moderate climate; suitable for use as an annual for hanging pots outdoors under partial shade; and good weather tolerance with preferred temperature range of 15-25° C.

Botanical designation: Torenia sp.

Variety denomination: ‘Dantorwhite’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Toreniaplant of the Scrophulariaceae family, hereinafter referred to by thecultivar name ‘Dantorwhite’.

The new cultivar originated in a controlled breeding program in MoshavMishmar Hashiva, Israel. ‘Dantorwhite’ was discovered and selected bythe inventor, Gabriel Danziger, as an induced shoot mutation on a singleflowering plant of the cultivar ‘Rose Moon’, grown in a controlled,cultivated environment in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel.

‘Dantorwhite’ is an induced mutant of the cultivar Torenia ‘Rose Moon’(unpatented), selected in a cultivated environment in Moshav MishmarHashiva, Israel. The mutation arose by radiation, as a side shoot, andwas stabilized by removing the shoot as a cutting from the mutatedsector of the treated parent plant.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by soft tip cuttings was firstperformed in September, 2002 in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel and hasdemonstrated that the combination of characteristics as herein disclosedfor the new cultivar are firmly fixed and retained through successivegenerations of asexual reproduction. The new cultivar reproduces true totype.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe basic characteristics of ‘Dantorwhite’ which in combinationdistinguish this Torenia as a new and distinct cultivar:

-   -   1. Shiny green foliage, dotted with plenty of delicate, cup        shaped flowers in shades of white with a yellow throat;    -   2. Bush cascading, vigorous, compact rounded growth, densely        branched;    -   3. Early flowering, flowers all year round in moderate climate;    -   4. Suitable for use as an annual for hanging pots outdoors under        partial shade; and    -   5. Good weather tolerance with preferred temperature range of        15-25° C.

Of the many commercial cultivars known to the present inventor, the mostsimilar in comparison to ‘Dantorwhite’ is the parental cultivar Torenia‘Rose Moon’. Table 1 shows a comparison between ‘Dantorwhite’ and ‘RoseMoon’.

TABLE 1 Characteristic ‘Dantorwhite’ Torenia ‘Rose Moon’ Flower colorWhite and Yellow Light Red-Purple Flower size (inch) 1.2 × 1.4 1.2 × 1.4(width by length) Growth habit Bush cascading Bush cascading Floweringtime 8 weeks from planting 8 weeks from planting

‘Dantorwhite’ has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions. The phenotype of the new cultivar may vary with variationsin environment such as temperature, light intensity, and day lengthwithout any change in the genotype of the plant. The followingobservations, measurements and values describe the new cultivar as grownin Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel under conditions, which closelyapproximate those generally used in commercial practice.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The accompanying color photographs show typical flower and foliagecharacteristics of ‘Dantorwhite’, with the colors being as true aspossible with illustrations of this type. The accompanying photographicillustrations show:

The first drawing shows: a flowering plant of ‘Dantorwhite’ in itsentirety.

The second drawing shows a close up of ‘Dantorwhite’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following observations, measurements and values describe the newcultivar as grown in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel under conditions,which closely approximate those generally used in commercial practice.For use as a pot plant, optimal growth conditions include grown outdoorsin moderate climate, and indoors during winter. Irrigation andfertilization on a regular basis. The plant is usually grown in fullsunlight, but partial shade is required in mid summer. Plants are fullygrown in three months from planting a cutting, and blooms all year-roundin moderate climate.

Color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society ColourChart (R.H.S.), except where general colors of ordinary significance areused. Color values were taken under daylight conditions at approximatelynoon in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel in the September 2002 season. Theage of the plant described is three months.

-   Propagation: Tissue culture propagation of young, in vitro plantlets    and soft tip cuttings.-   Plant:    -   -   Form.—Bush cascading.        -   Growth habit.—Rounded and compact.        -   Height.—6 inches.        -   Spreading area.—20 inches across.        -   Blooming period.—All year round in moderate climate.        -   Cold tolerance.—Frost tender, plants may be damaged by temp.            below 5° C.        -   Vigor.—Plants are fully grown in 3 months from planting a            cutting.-   Stem:    -   -   Color.—Yellow-Green 144-A.        -   Diameter.—0.1 inch.        -   Length.—25 cm maximum length.        -   Pubescence.—Minimal; the stem is quadrangular; hairs are on            the edges especially.        -   Length of internodes.—1.5 inches.        -   Branching.—About 20 main branches from the base that split            into secondary and tertiary branches.-   Foliage:    -   -   Overall shape.—Deltoid. Base: Cordate. Tip: Acuminate.            Margin: Serrate.        -   Color.—Center color of leaf: Yellow-Green 147-A. Upper side:            Yellow-Green 147-A. Under side: Yellow-Green 147-B.        -   Size of leaf.—Width: 1.0 inch. Length: 1.5 inches. Petioles:            Length, about 1.0 cm; Diameter, about 0.15 cm, Yellow-Green            144-A. Leaf texture: Convex. Venation: Not prominent.-   Flowers:    -   -   Blooming period.—All year round in moderate climate.        -   Flowering stem.—Flowers appear along the growing stems.        -   Orientation at opening.—Slantly upward.        -   Type.—Single.        -   Shape.—Funnel form.        -   Petals.—Size: 1.2 inches (width)×1.4 inches (length). Shape:            Corolla tube cylindrical or often broadened above, 2-lipped,            the upper lip faintly 2-lobed, the lower lip 3-lobed. Color:            The corolla is white with a yellow blotch at the lower lip            and a yellow throat. Mature and immature upper side: RHS 155            C, and RHS 1 A. Mature and immature under side: RHS 155 C,            and RHS 3 C. Mature and immature margin: RHS 155 C. Throat:            RHS 1 A.        -   Peduncle.—Length: 0.3 inch. Diameter: About 0.2 cm. Texture:            Smooth. Color: Yellow-Green 144-A.        -   Bud.—Shape: Oblong cylindrical ellipsoid 5 winged. Size:            Length: 1.2 cm. Diameter: 0.3 inch. Color: RHS 4 D.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Stamen.—2 pairs, white RHS 155 C.        -   Style.—White RHS 155 C in color; 1.7 cm in length.        -   Anther.—White RHS 155 C in color; about 0.3 cm in length.        -   Filament.—White RHS 155 C.        -   Ovaries.—1, green RHS 143-B.        -   Pollen color.—RHS 155 C.        -   Pistil length.—About 2.2 cm.        -   Stigma.—Shape: 2 lobed. Color: RHS 76 B.-   Seed/fruit: None.-   Pest/disease resistance and/or susceptibility: A standard    preventative spray program is sufficient as no susceptibility was    observed.

1. A new and distinct Torenia plant named ‘Dantorwhite’ as illustratedand described herein.